Supercoppa Italiana: AC Join Inter for the New Year Bash

Inter Milan vs AC Milan

AC Milan will take on 2024 Scudetto winners Inter Milan in the 2025 Supercoppa Italiana final after I Rossoneri saw off Juventus in the semi-final on Friday night. Inter beat Atalanta on Thursday, and that means the Derbi Di Milano will take centre stage at the Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Monday.

The Supercoppa Italiana 2025 betting odds have backed Simone Inzaghi’s men from the outset, and I Nerazzurri had a relatively comfortable passage through to the final for a fourth year in succession, thanks to a 2-0 win over title rivals Atalanta. And it looked like Juventus would be the team joining them until I Rossoneri launched a second half fight back on Friday under the watchful eye of new manager Sergio Conceicao.

Serie A is certainly hotting up going into 2025, and while the Milan clubs get set to make some more Supercoppa Italiana 2025 highlights, Napoli could go top of the league if they get a result in Florence on Saturday. But there is silverware at stake, and the Milan rivals will have their eyes only on Riyadh.

 

Talking Points

Thuram doubt for Inter

The semi-final win over Atalanta came at a cost for I Nerazzurri, as France striker Marcus Thuram picked up an injury which forced him off at halftime. While club medical staff will assess him over the next 24 hours, it’s unlikely the 27-year-old will make the final, according to sources at Inter. Inzaghi said after the match that Thuram felt some stiffness in the groin area on his left leg, and he took him off as a precaution, replacing him with Mehdi Taremi, who is now likely to start in the final alongside captain Lautaro Martinez.

When Thuram left the pitch, it was still 0-0. But two goals from wing-back Denzel Dumfries early in the second period made it a relatively comfortable passage through to the final, though keeper Yann Sommer was called upon to make a huge save from La Dea substitute Ademola Lookman.

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini defended his decision to leave out some key players. As well as Lookman, Ederson, and Charles De Ketelaere were rested, while top scorer Mateo Retegui was suspended. But you can only beat the team in front of you, and Inter did the job professionally, as Inzaghi always expects.

 

Conceicao’s winning start

Following the sacking of Paulo Fonseca, I Rossoneri moved quickly to appoint former FC Porto manager Sergio Conceicao, and the 50-year-old started off with a win as his new side came back from a goal down to beat Juventus 2-1. The Old Lady came out of the traps quickly and went ahead on 21 minutes when winger Samuel Mbangula threaded through a brilliant ball for Kenan Yildiz to fire his shot past Mike Maignan at the near post.

Conceicao admitted he had a few home truths for the Milan players, and he didn’t hold back at halftime, and his new charges responded in the second period with a much better showing. USA star Christian Pulisic, who has been out for a month with a calf injury, won a penalty when Manuel Locatelli scythed him down, and he climbed to his feet to convert from 12 yards. That was on 71 minutes and, just five later, Milan won the game when Yunus Musah sent in a dangerous ball, and Juventus defender Federico Gatti diverted it into his own net.

 

History

With 30 wins to 21 in all competitions since 2003, Inter Milan have had the better of the Derbi Di Milano, and I suspect Inzaghi’s team is about to stretch their lead to 10.

In terms of recent form, I Nerazzuri, currently third in the Serie A table, have won their last five league games, scoring 19 goals and conceding just one. Meanwhile, I Rossoneri have won two, drawn two, and lost one, and it was Milan’s draw with Roma last week which saw a change in management in readiness for the second half of the campaign.

 

Betting Tip

With AC Milan out at SBOTOP odds of 4.45 and the draw at 3.74, this is looking like a tall task for I Rossoneri. While there may be a new manager bounce for Conceicao on the way, I don’t think it will be in Saudi, and I’m backing a win for Inzaghi’s in-form men.

   

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